Food manufacturer fined over safety failings

Categories: Food Health and Safety |


Food manufacturer fined over safety failings One of the UK's leading food manufacturers has been fined £10,000 after a worker had two fingers sliced off in one of its mixing machines.

The firm was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation into the incident on at a cake baking site.

Halifax Magistrates' court heard how an employee lost two fingers on her right hand when she attempted to clear a blockage in an industrial sized mixer.

A subsequent investigation conducted by the HSE found that the employee had to scale a two-metre fixed step ladder in order to reach the machine, before she could even restart it.

Although the mixer had stopped, the blades inside were still rotating, which caused her fingers to severe.

The company pleaded guilty of breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

It was given a £10,000 fine and ordered to pay £2,889 in costs.

HSE inspector Rachel Brittain commented: "Preventing access to moving parts and fitting guards is an elementary and essential precautionary measure and inexpensive."

In a bid to reduce the risk of workplace accidents, employers are required to provide appropriate workwear.ADNFCR-1200-ID-800010445-ADNFCR

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